Flushing unit



Sept. 8, 1953 H. B. (-ZATES 2,651,318 FLUSHING UNIT Filed Aug. 11, 19473 Sheets-Sheet l Ag /Aer) 1.9. Ca/es INVENTORI,

Sept. 8, 1953 H. B. GATES FLUSHING UNIT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 11,1947 fl -Aer/ 15. Cafe? ]NVEN TOR.

Sept. 8, 1953 H. B. CATES 2,651,313

FLUSHING UNIT Filed Aug. 11, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 any;

INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 8, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLUSHING UNIT HerbertB. Gates, Fouke, Ark. Application August 11, 1947, Serial No. 767,931

9 Claims. I

My invention relates to laundry equipment generally, but more inparticular to a flushing unit adapted to be positioned in the flow linesof the cleaning solvent in a manner to automatically flush the same intothe water.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a flushing unit tobe used in connection with a washer that will periodically andautomatically flush a desired amount of a cleaning solvent into thewasher after each draining of the same, and to automatically shut offthe flow of solvent therethrough when a desired number of flushings havebeen made.

Another object of my invention is to provide a flushing unit that may beeconomically manufactured and that may be easily adapted for use onvarious types and sizes of equipment.

Other objects and advantages will be found in the course of thefollowing detailed description and claims when viewed together with theaccompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 shows my invention in a flushingunit as being used in connection with a washer and filter Of a drycleaning system.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the flushing unit.

Fig. 3 is a partially broken top view thereof.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the upper end of the syphoningmechanism of the flushing unit.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the float mechanism and actuating rod elements.

Fig. 6 is a side view of the float mechanism shown in its positionrelative to the cut-off switch.

Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken along lines 7-1 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a detailed view showing the position of the mechanicallyoperated actuating rod element at the end of a series of flushings.

In the drawings numeral I designates my flushing unit generally, and inFig. 1 it is shown in connection with the usual dry cleaning partsconsisting of a washer I I, a pumping unit I2, and a filter I3, allconnected by solvent flow lines I4. As common to a system of this type,I have used the ordinary visual indicating couplings I which areprovided with transparent windows I6 through which an operator can notethe flow of the solvent through the flow lines. When the solvent thatleaves the washer II becomes as clear as the solvent that leaves thefilter, the operator knows that the laundry is clean.

In the prior art systems, the pumping unit I2 is connected directly tothe flowline I4 coming from the fllter I3. Some operators fill thewasher I I with the cleaning solvent before beginning the washingoperation. Other operators adjust the pumping mechanism to maintain asmall flow of clean solvent through the reservoir in the washer in anattempt to wash and rinse simultaneously by 'graduallyridding' thewasher reservoir of the dirty solvent. Since there isno provision fordraining the solvent from the washer reservoir when the clothes areclean, the operator must reach down into the washer reservoir to removethe clothes to an extractor for drying them. It can be easily seen thatconstant dipping of the hands and arms down into the solvent couldeasily cause permanent injury to an operator. While rubber gloves aresometimes provided for such a purpose, they are considered bunglesomeand a waste of time.

The construction and advantages of my flushing mechanism will be moreclearly understood by reference to Figs. 2, 3, and 4 of the drawingwherein numeral I1 designates a cylindrical housing having a volumeslightly less than the volume of the reservoir of the washer II. Thisreservoir I! is provided with a cone shaped bottom I8 having a threadedconnection I9 to receive an outlet pipe 20. The upper end of the housingI I is provided with a removable coneshaped lid 2I through which isextended the inlet pipe 22. This cone-shaped lid 2| is fitted looselyinto the housing I! so that suflicient air might enter therein to assistin the syphoning action that will be described later in thisspeciflcation. The housing I1 is also provided with a visual liquidlevel indicator 23.

Connected in abutting relationship to the end of the outlet housing 20in the threaded coupling I9, I have positioned a syphon outlet pipe 24threadedly engaging a cap member 25 on its upper end. This cap member 25is also adapted to receive a plug 26 and a hollow sleeve 27 whichterminates inwardly of the bottom I8 of the housing I I. The upper endof the syphon outlet pipe 24 is provided with several radially disposedholes 28 through which the liquid solvent is carried to the outlet pipe20 and on to the washer II as shown by the directional arrows in bothFigs. 3 and 4.

In the upper lid 2I I have tom 29 affixed at its peripheral edge portionto the cone shaped lid 2 I. Mounted on the underside of this falsebottom 29 I have positioned a float bracket 30 arranged to pivotally'support a pair of float arms 3I having a float 32 connected to the endsthereof. The float arms 3|, in this instance, consist of a continuousrod extended through the two side walls or the float bracket 30 and bentat an outwardly converging angle therefrom. Between the two side wallsof the placed a false botsupport bracket 30 I have attached anintegrally mounted link 35 to the float arm 3| which also has a stopmember 33 arranged to determine the distance that the floats 32 may movein a down ward direction in the housing I1. Extending axially throughthe lower portion of the upper lid 2 I, I have positioned an actuatingrod 34 provided with a handle 36 mounted on one of its ends. Thisactuating rod 34 is loosely mounted in holes aligned through the lid 2Iand the fioat bracket 30 and is provided with substantially V- shapednotches 3'! placed near the end opposite the handle 36. Looped over theactuating rod 34 in a manner to engage the notches 31, I have placed anengaging link 38 which is pivotally mounted to the link 35. By referenceto Fig. 6

of the drawing, it can be seen that as the float, due to the risingliquid, rises in the housing H, the link 35 will be rotated in clockwisefashion; and the engaging link 38, positioned in one of the notches 31,will advance the actuating rod 34 in the direction of the arrow. Whenthe liquid in the housing falls, the floats 32 will drop again, thusre-positioning the engaging link 38 in a second notch. Note that anynumber of notches may be placed on the actuating rod 34 to effect asmany flushings of the housing H as desired.

Above the false bottom 29 I have placed a switch box 39 arranged tocarry an electrical outlet plug All. Extending transversely through theside walls of the switch box 39 I have placed a pin 4] on which ismounted a mercury type actuating switch l2. This switch 42 may bepivotally mounted on the pin M or may be firmly fixed thereon and thepin M rotatably mounted in the side walls of the switch box 39. In anyevent the switch 52 must be able to tilt upwardly and downwardly toeffect an opening and closing of the electrical circuit. I have arrangeda stop lever :23 to pivot with the switch 52. This stop lever 43 isadapted to be engaged by a switch bar 44, the end of which is extendedthrough a hole in the switch box 39 to a point outside thereof. The endof the switch bar 64 is provided with a stop 45 which is adapted to beengaged by the end of the actuating rod 34 to effect an opening of theelectrical circuit as shown in Fig. 8.

To re-position the actuating rod 34, the handle 36 may be turnedapproximately 90 degrees either to the right or the left, or even in aninverted position, and drawn back against the positioning stop 46. Thisadjustable stop 46 is so placed to allow the actuating link 38 to engagethe first of the notches 3'! on the actuating rod 34. The weight of themercury in the switch is sufflcient to reposition the switch bar 44 to aposition as shown in Fig. 6.

With the foregoing construction in mind, a

brief description of the operation of my invention will follow: Let usassume that my invention in a flushing mechanism is being used inconnection with the other units of a prior art system as shown in Fig.l, and that the pump mechanism l2 has pumped the solvent or othercleaning fluid through the inlet pipe 22 to a level in the housing H asshown by Fig. 2 of the drawing. The liquid will, of course, seek thesame level inside the sleeve 21 and in the externally mounted indicator23. During the period of filling the housing H the dirty fluid is beingpumped from the reservoir in the washer Ii, preparatory to the injectionof clean fluid from my flushing unit.

As soon as the liquid level in the housing rises to a point of enteringthe holes 28 of the syphon outlet pipe 2 1, the flushing action begins.The first liquid that falls through the syphon outlet pipe 2 strikes achoke 4i and temporarily closes off all air that might come from thewasher reservoir and disturb the syphoning action. When enough liquidenters the outlet pipe 24, the syphoning action begins and the entirefluid in the housing is drained into the washer reservoir.

It will be noted that as the float rises with the liquid, the engaginglink 38 advances the actuating rod 34 one notch; and as it falls withthe liquid it repositions itself to a second notch preparatory toadvancing the rod further toward the cut-off switch 42. Thus any numberof flushings of the washer with clean fluid may be made before theactuating rod 34 shuts off the pumping mechanism l2.

It is to be remembered that the diameters of the outlet pipe 20 with therelated syphoning mechanism are large enough to permit the draining ofthe housing I! without cutting off the flow of fluid through the inletpipe 22. Thus the pumping mechanism l2 will provide a continuous flow offluid through the various units until it is finally cut off at the endof a washing cycle. An operator may, of course, set any number of cyclesor even shut off all flow of fluid at any time by setting the actuatingrod in the proper position or engaging the cut off switch 42.

In actual practice I have found that whereas a 45 minute period forwashing was formerly required, I have been able to reduce that time to 8minutes. Not only is this a valuable aid to the cleaning industry, butthe clothes cleaned by such a method are necessarily cleaner due to theperiodic draining of the dirty fluid and the flushing of clean fluidinto the washer by my flushing unit.

As an extra precaution against the possibility of any electrical sparksigniting the fumes from the solvent, I have purposely placed all of theswitching mechanism above the false bottom 29 of the lid 2|, and havealso employed the enclosed mercury type actuating switch.

It will be remembered that my flushing unit may be made to contain anyvolume of fluid, but is preferable that it be made to contain slightlyless than the volume of the washer with which it is used. In this mannerit will not overflow the washer when the clothes are placed therein.

It will be further noted that I have arranged for the flow of fluid tobe cut off just prior to the beginning of the syphoning action in thehousing l'l. This means that at the beginning of a new cycle, whenanother batch of clothes are placed in the washer reservoir, there is notime lost by having to wait for the flushing action to begin. Since thefluid has nearly fllled the housing ll, the flushing will begin almostimmediately after the initial starting of the cycle of washing. Alsosince the reservoir of the washer H is drained at the end of the washingcycle, it may be opened to allow an operator to remove the clothes andinsert others without having to place his hands and arms beneath thesurface of the cleaning fluid as is necessary in prior art devices.

While I have described my invention in detail as using a solvent ofcleaning fluid, it can readily be used in water washing, in handlingchemicals or any other liquid to effect a number of periodic flushings.It is understood that various changes in construction may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as fallwithin the following claims.

I claim:

1. A flushing unit comprising a vertically disposed tank adapted to befilled with a fluid, an outlet pipe for said tank, a lid removablymounted on said tank carrying an inlet pipe, a float controlled switchsupported by said lid and operative in accordance with the fluid levelin said tank, and means for removing fluid from said tank at successiveintervals for changing the level of fluid in said tank and changing theposition of said float controlled switch and pumping mechanismcontrolled by said switch for pumping fluid into said tank.

2. A flushing unit comprising a vertically disposed tank adapted to befilled with a fluid, a fluid inlet connection on said tank, an outletpipe for said tank for discharging fluid therefrom, a lid removablymounted on said tank carrying an inlet pipe, a syphoning mechanismconnected to said outlet pipe adapted to syphon fluid from said tank atsuccessive intervals and adjustable means supported by said lid andadapted to stop the flow of fluid into said tank through said inletconnection after a predetermined number of flushing cycles.

3. A flushing unit as claimed in claim 1 including a float mechanismsupported by said lid comprising a mounting bracket, a float armpivotally mounted on said bracket, a float mounted on said arm adaptedto be raised by fluid in said tank, a rod slidably mounted on said lid,said rod provided with spaced notches, a linkage mechanism connectedwith said float arm adapted to successively engage said notches tosuccessively advance said rod upon upward and downward movements of saidfloat.

4. A flushing unit as claimed in claim 1 including a float mechanismmounted on said lid comprising a mounting bracket, a float arm pivotallymounted on said bracket, a float mounted on said float arm adapted to beraised by the level of fluid in aid tank, a rod slidably mounted on saidlid, said rod provided with longitudinally spaced notches, a linkagemechanism connected to said float arm adapted to successively engagesaid notches to successively advance said rod upon upward and downwardmovements of said floats, and said float controlled switch including anactuating bar adapted to be engaged by said rod.

5. In a flushing unit, a combination of a closed tank adapted to befilled with a fluid, fluid inlet and discharge connections to saidclosed tank, means for syphoning the fluid, a fluid flow control meansincluding a float mechanism adapted to be actuated by rise and fall ofthe fluid level in said closed tank, and a timing means connected withsaid float mechanism adapted to be set to stop the flow of fluid intosaid closed tank after a predetermined number of flushing cycles aremade by said syphoning means, said fluid flow control means including anelectrical control switch adapted to be actuated by said timing means.

6. A flushing unit comprising a closed tank provided with an inlet pipeand an outlet pipe, said closed tank adapted to be fllled with a fluidthrough said inlet pipe to be subsequently discharged through saidoutlet pipe, a syphoning mechanism attached to said outlet pipe adaptedto syphon fluid from said tank, said syphoning mechanism comprising atubular extension extending upwardly into said tank and attached to saidoutlet pipe, said tubular extension being open at it upper end; a casingmember having its upper end closed surrounding said tubular extension;means for holding said casing member in a radially spaced positionrelative to said tubular extension with its lower end thereof spacedslightly above the bottom surface of said tank, whereby the fluidentering said tank will also rise in said casing member to the point ofentry of the open end of said tubular extension to effect a syphoning ofthe fluid in said closed tank, a yoke pivotally mounted with respect tosaid closed tank and extending on opposite sides of said syphoningmechanism, a float carried by each end of said yoke and controlled inposition by the level of the fluid in said tank, and means controlled bysaid yoke for controlling the supply of fluid to said closed tankthrough said inlet pipe.

7. In a flushing unit including a closed tank including a removable lidtherefor, a sealed compartment disposed interiorly of the lid, a fluidflow control device including an electrical switch housed in said sealedcompartment, a switch actuating mechanism including a substantiallyhorizontally slidably mounted rod operative to trip said switch, a rodactuating mechanism operated by a float adapted to move said rod intoswitch tripping position upon the rise and fall of the level of thefluid in said tank and reset mechanism for restoring said rod actuatingmechanism to a position preparatory for a repeat operation.

8. A flushing unit comprising an elongated vertically disposed tankadapted to be filled with a fluid, said tank being provided with anoutlet pipe, a removable lid for said tank carrying an inlet pipe foruse in filling said tank, a partition wall in said lid forming asubstantially vapor proof compartment, a float mechanism mounted beneathsaid compartment and adapted to be actuated by the level of fluid insaid tank, a horizontally disposed rod slidably mounted in said lidbeneath said compartment and operatively connected with said floatmechanism and adapted to be moved by it, and an electrical controlswitch mounted in said compartment, said float mechanism adapted toadvance said rod to effect an opening of said electrical switchaccording to the level of the fluid in said tank.

9. A flushing unit comprising a closed tank including a removable lid, asealed compartment carried by said lid, a fluid flow control deviceincluding an electrical switch housed in said sealed compartment, aswitch actuating mechanism mounted in said lid, said mechanism includinga substantially horizontally extending slidable rod projecting throughone side of said lid and movable from an initially manually setposition, float control means for shifting said rod in one direction fortripping said switch actuating mechanism after a predetermined number ofincreases and decreases in the fluid level in said tank, and meansconnected with the projecting end of said rod exteriorly of said lid formanually restoring said rod to its initial position preparatory for thenext tripping operation of said switch actuating mechanism.

HERBERT B. CA'I'ES.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 236,740 Waring Jan. 18, 1881 425,859 Butler Apr. 15, 1890431,542 Bailey July 8, 1890 449,390 Sullivan Mar. 31, 1891 1,049,895Meyer Jan. 7, 1913 1,112,111 Bowser Sept. 29, 1914 1,127,387 Alger Feb.9, 1915 1,914,541 Teesdale June 20, 1933

